Major International Symposium on Advances in Milking

The Teagasc/IDF International Symposium on Advances in Milking takes place in Cork on Wednesday next, 11 April 2007. The symposium features key presentations by renowned international experts in milking research from: Denmark, Sweden, Ukraine, France, Slovakia, Norway, USA, Belgium, Argentina, Germany, Netherlands, Italy and Ireland.

This event, which is being hosted by Teagasc and the Irish National Committee of the International Dairy Federation, will focus on the latest research, developments, innovation and international standards relating to milking equipment. The main objective of the conference is to improve the standard of testing and reporting on milking machine performance and the introduction of new and innovative milking time test procedures. It will also increase awareness of the effects of new milking technologies on milking performance, milk quality and labour efficiency.

Dairy farmers throughout the world will be required to increase efficiency and scale at farm level in response to ongoing trade liberalisation. At the same time labour supply and cost in many countries is increasing while there is an ongoing requirement for higher product quality and safety.

This conference will be of major interest to manufacturers and distributors of milking machines and associated automation, technicians involved in installation and testing of milking machines, personnel involved in advising farmers on milk quality and labour efficiency, export-import companies, advisors and consultants to the farming sector and food inspection and control authorities.

Presentations will also be given by members of the IDF action team on Milking Equipment and Methods, and by experts responsible for ISO revisions.

During their stay in Ireland, international delegates to the conference will visit Teagasc, Moorepark Dairy Production Research centre to see grass-based systems of milk production.